Radius-rod for motor-vehicles.



CUBALOUGH.

RADIUS ROD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

NPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1914. I 1,173,407. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

C. BALOUGH.

RADIUS ROD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27 1914. 1,173,407. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I Q/ I wi/lmemo CHARLES BALOUGH, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO,

MOTOR TRUCK COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD,

ASSIGNOB TO THE KELLY-SPRINGFIELD OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

RADIUS-ROD FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

peciflcation of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. 2 9, 1916.

Application filed February 27, 1914. Serial No. 821,411.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that 1, CHARLES citizen of Austria-Hungary, residingSpringfield, in the county of Clark and t of Ohio, have'inventedcertain'new and useful Improvements in Radius-Rods for- Motor-Vehicles,of which the following 1s a specification. This invention relates toimprovements in radius rods for motor motor vehicles of the heavy trucktype in which the driving wheels are driven by chains from a jack shaft.

The object of my invention is to provide a radius rod which, whilepermitting the ready adjustment between the rear axle and the pack shaftfor tightening or loosening the driving chains, will be so constructedthat all torsional stresses, due to driving or braking force, will bepermitted without affecting the adjusting screws or other ad justingparts.

In the accompanying drawings,-F1gure 1 is a side view, partly insection, of so much of a motor vehicle as is necessary to illustrate myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same, also partly in section.Fig.3 1s a side elevation showing the connection between the radius rodand the rear axle. Fig. 4 is a detail of the supporting bracket for thejack-shaft. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the jack-shaft and itsbearing and of a portion of ner of connecting the rod and shaft. J

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In the accompanying drawings, sents the radius rod,'whi ch may be usualbifurcated trussed form. The rear b1- furcated portion of this red isconnected to a spider 2, swiveled on the rear axle 4; the connectionbetween the rod and spider preferably being a pivotal one through themedium of the pivots 3 and 3, but if desired, the rod will be rigidlyconnected to said spider. This spider carries some of the brakingdevices, the shoe 5 and drum 5 being shown in the present case, as thesebraking devices ent invention; the drum BAiio GH, a at 5 being securedin the usual way to the rear driving wheel (not shown). I

The forward part of the rod isformed with a slotted or elongated open ng7.

ate

vehicles, particularly p the radius rod, showing the man '1 repreof the7 do not enter into -the pre' sif desired, maybe formed ine opening rod,but in the present solid portion of the case the rod is shown providedwith a se arate portion 6 for convenience in manmacture, held to themain portion by bolts 6. Slidably mounted in the slotted opening, 7,- isa bearing block, for convenience in manufacture shown as made in twoparts, 8 and 8, and screw-threaded in the respective arts of theradiusrod are adjusting screws 9 and 10, the ends of which fit inrecessesin the respective members of the bearing block for the purposeof holding the same in any position of adjustment in the slottedopening.

The block members 8 and 8 embrace the bearing 11 for the jack-shaft 12,this hearing 11 being rigidly secured to the jackshaft casing 13;anti-friction rollers 14 b..- ing preferably interposed between theshaft and the bearing proper 11. Each of the bearing block members 8 and8 is provided with a concave bearing face 15 which are fitted to convexbearing faces 16 on the exterior of the bearing 11. The bearing 11 issupported in the bracket 16 secured to the main frame 17 of the vehicle.The bracket 16 has a removable portion 16*- for the purpose of allowingthe parts to be readily assembled, this. removable portion beingsecured-to the main portion by bolts 18, and it 20 on the exterior ofthe bearing 11. The

.jack-shaft has secured to the outer end thereof the usualsprocket-wheel 21 over which passes a chain (not shown) to the sprocketteeth 22 on the drum 5. Each of the exterior rounded bearing faces 16and 19 are provided with peripheral and transversely-arrangedoil-grooves 15 and 19, for

the purpose of lubricating the parts. By

this construction it will be seen that the jack-shaft and rear drivingwheel may be readily; adjusted with respect to each other through themedium of the screws 9 and 10. It will be further seen that by reason ofthe rounded bearing surfaces described, all torsional strain upon theradius rod and the adjusting devices, due to braking anddriving-stresses, is obviated; these stresses being transmitted to thebracket 16; whatever strain there is upon the adjusting screws 9 and 10being a direct one and net cf a torsional or heading nature,

It will further be noticed that the radius rod is formed to all intentsand purposes of one solid structure, as distinguished from those radiusrods which have beenin commen use which are constructed of two partsjoined to ether by adjusting screws. This manner constructing the rodand providing means for adjusting said rod with respect to the bearingswhich it carries furnishes a much stronger structure to resist torsionalstrains than the old construction referred to.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a rear axle, a jack-shaft, aradius rod, a connection between said rod and axle, a bearing-blockcarried by said rod having rounded bearing faces fitted to roundedbearing faces associated with said shaft, and means for adjusting saidblock and rod in a straight line relatively each other to vary therelation between said shaft and axle.

2. In a device of the character described,

a main frame, an axle and jack-shaft associated with said frame, aradius rod, a connection between said rod and axle, a bearing blockcarried by said rod having rounded bearing faces fitted to roundedbearing surfaces associated with said shaft together with means foradjusting said block and rod relatively each other to vary the relationbetween said shaft and axle, and rounded bearing faces between saidframe and shaft.

3. In a device of the character described, a rear axle, a radius rodpivotally connected with said axle to allow the parts a lateral movementwith respect to each other, a j ackshaft, a bearing block carried bysaid rod having rounded bearing faces fitted to rounded bearing facesassociated with said shaftand means for adjusting said block and saidrod relatively each other to vary the relation between said shaft andaxle.

4. In a device of the character described, a rear axle, a jack-shaft, abearing for said jack-shaft, a radius rod connected with said axle, ablock supported by said radius rod and embracing said bearing, means foradjusting said rod and block relatively each other and rounded bearingfaces between said block and bearing.

5.'In a device of the character described, a main frame, an axle andjack shaft asso ciated with said frame, a radius rod vertirally hingedat one end to said axle and a universal joint between the other end ofsaid radius rod and the jack shaft, for the pur pose specified.

6. In a device of the character described, a main frame, an axle andjack shaft associated with said frame, an intermediate member supportedon said axle, a radius rod, a vertically hinged joint between the oneend of said radius rod and said intermediate member, and a universaljoint betweenthe other end of said radius rod and said jack shaft, forthe purpose specified.

7. In a device of the character described, a main frame, a rear axle andjack shaft associated with said frame, intermediate member supported onsaid axle, a radius red one end of which is hinged directly to saidintermediate member whereby it may swing laterally on said member, and auniversal joint between the other end of'said radius rod and said jackshaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofFebruary 1914.

CHARLES BALOUGHF Witnesses:

CHAS. I. WELCH, ESTHER E. PFEIFER.

